I am hoping to have a herd of buffalo for milking & meat. Are there any differences in the equipment used in the milk shed? Also could cattle use same shed, with a full clean down or seperate shed? With on-site diary shop, I intend on propcessing as well into cheese, cream, yoghurt, milk & icecream, asre all possible from buffalo milk?

A friend of mine runs a large herd here doing all the things you say. Parlour not too different. Mozzarella cheese is the usual premium product from milk. But others are also done by him. Also he has developed a good hard cheese. Meat is fine.

You do know I assume the wimpy things need keeping warm in the winter.

Norfolk Boy wrote:

I am hoping to have a herd of buffalo for milking & meat. Are there any differences in the equipment used in the milk shed? Also could cattle use same shed, with a full clean down or seperate shed? With on-site diary shop, I intend on propcessing as well into cheese, cream, yoghurt, milk & icecream, asre all possible from buffalo milk?

By buffalo do you mean bison, as we would here ? I have never heard of anyone milking them, some meat but vets hate working on them.

McFarmer wrote:

Norfolk Boy wrote: I am hoping to have a herd of buffalo for milking & meat. Are there any differences in the equipment used in the milk shed? Also could cattle use same shed, with a full clean down or seperate shed? With on-site diary shop, I intend on propcessing as well into cheese, cream, yoghurt, milk & icecream, asre all possible from buffalo milk? By buffalo do you mean bison, as we would here ? I have never heard of anyone milking them, some meat but vets hate working on them.

No, Indo/European Buffalo, or in some books true Buffalo, as opposed to Bison. Anyone wanting to find out about them should buy what is laughingly known as a ticket for one of Mr Ryans flying machines, pedal hard, and go to Turin. Lots and lots of dairy buffalo herds within, say, 20 miles of there, and several of the North Italian cheeses are made with Buffalo milk. Quite a lot of demand for it from those allergic to cows milk, and although (as Stephen says) they won't stand really cold conditions, they aren't any more trouble than normal domestic cattle normally, although they do of course yield a lot less.

Definately not Bison. Being brought in to milk over here. Also a lot in Italy. The source of the best and most expensive mozzarrella cheese.




The special cubicle house for them. As they get up and down differently to cows and horns or something.


The new milking parlour being built.



Just seen Dicks post. There is an Eu guideline on housing them during winter as my friend found out. The unit is funded by the Goldsmith and Rothschild families and is just over the hill from HRH Prince Charles's place here.
My friend also married to a Romanian used to lecture at Wye. When as I am sure Dick will agree it was a venerated agricultural institution globally. Any how cut long story short. As HRH is oft here my friend was made the Honorary Consul. thereby saving the Ambassador travelling 6 hours to get there.
The demise of the Italian output due to TB has been good for here. And the added value processed milk in whatever form sells very well. Trouble is the buggers eat same as a cow and produce milk like a sheep. ( No insult to sheep intended)